Chapter 38


    Read The Trap Of Ace [by Eva Zahan] Chapter 38 – “Warner?” I stared at him in shock and surprise.


    He’d called and messagedst night, but through all this going on I couldn’t check his message. And now


    seeing him standing before me again, rose the guilt inside me again.


    “Hey!” Tucking a strand behind my ear, I greeted him with an awkward stance.


    His brown orbs roamed over my features, a frown set between his brows. “You alright? You seem… not


    well.”


    Even after what I did, he was still concerned for me. That’s why I didn’t want to lose a friend like him.


    Before we started dating, he was my best friend in NY.


    All of a sudden, I’d a sudden urge to hug him tight and share all my problems with him. But I knew I


    couldn’t.


    Gulping, I nodded my head. “I’m fine, don’t worry. Come in!” I held the door wide open for him, shing a


    small smile.


    Once we were settled in the hall, I got him some coffee and another cup of tea for me. I needed it for my


    growing headache.


    “Thanks!” Taking the mug from me, he looked around. “Where is everyone?”


    I took a seat at the opposite side of the couch. “Dad’s in the office. And Mom had another of her kitty


    parties.”


    Thank G*d, they weren’t home. They already sensed something was going on between me and…him.


    And seeing Warner here all of a sudden would be extremely awkward.


    He nodded, his gaze not moving from me. “You sure, you’re okay? Your eyes are dull today.”


    No, I’m not.


    I wanted to say. Instead, I just bobbed my head again. “Yeah, I’m. Just a little headache.”


    He didn’t seem to be convinced. But not wanting to intrude, as always, he let it go and took a sip on his


    coffee. The corner of his lips turned upwards. “I’ve missed your coffee in thest two months.”


    “And I’ve missed you,” I said truthfully.


    He held my gaze for a moment and then let out a sigh, putting the mug down on the table. “I wanted to


    apologise to you, Em. The way I talked to youst time… I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t have spit out such


    words for you. I didn’t know what I was thinking. I was just- hurt and confused. I…”


    I shook my head. “You don’t need to say anything, Warner. It’s me who should be apologizing. I’m sorry.


    I’m sorry for breaking your trust. You didn’t say anything wrong. It was me who was at fault.” A tear


    escaped my eye. I just couldn’t keep my tears in sincest night. As if there was a tap left open inside my


    eyes.


    “Hey, hey!” He slided closer, wiping the tear from my cheek. “Please don’t cry, Em. Truth to be told, yes, I


    was extremely hurt. But it wasn’t your fault. I should’ve known something like this was going to happen. I


    always knew I was never in your heart. But still, being selfish, even after your telling me sometimes that


    we were better friends, I didn’t let you go. I got too blinded by my love that I didn’t see that you weren’t


    happy in that rtionship. You didn’t love me.”


    Thest line came out as a whisper through his lips. Seeing the mncholy in his eyes made me feel


    more terrible. Another tear rolled down my cheek, but I wiped it fast.


    “Warner, I- I tried my best. But I just couldn’t do it. Nor could I… let myself slip for him. I swear, I tried with


    everything I had in me. But…” I looked down at my hands, biting my lip.


    He squeezed my hand. “It’s alright, Em. The way you can’t force yourself to love me, you can’t force


    yourself not to fall for the guy who was already in your heart.”


    I looked up at him, not denying the fact.


    “I’m sorry,” I whispered. “I didn’t want to hurt you.”


    He shook his head. “Don’t be. And I know. My Em can’t hurt someone on purpose even if she wants to.”


    I didn’t show the difort on my face when he said ‘my Em’. Maybe he was just saying it just as a


    friend.


    “I’m sorry too. Being felt betrayed and in the fear of losing you, I’d ignored your calls and messages past


    weeks,” he said. “I just needed some time, you know? By the way, I called youst night. Even


    messaged you. You didn’t answer.”


    I shifted in my ce. “Uh, i- I was a little busy.”


    Nodding, he grabbed his cup again. “So, how’s everything going on?”


    “We’re still friends, right?” I ignored his question. Though a huge burden had lifted off my chest that he


    forgave me, I still wanted the assurance that he wasn’t breaking our friendship also.


    “Of course, Em! No matter what happens, you’ll always be my best friend,” he answered, eyes sincere.


    This time a genuine smile stretched across my lips as I pulled him into a bear hug. “Thank you, Warner!


    I’m really lucky to have you in my life!”


    Pulling away, he grinned. Though the gloom still lurked behind his eyes. “Nothing can break our


    friendship, Em. Not even some old feelings.”


    My smile threatened to fall. Even though things weren’t that tense between us anymore, it was still


    awkward.


    He cleared his throat. “Anyways, you didn’t answer my question. How’s everything going on with your


    life? How’s the office?”


    ***


    “Wow, you’ve made quite a collection here for yourself,” he awed, assessing the designs I’d drawn in the


    office when I’d no work to do. At least I’d invested my time in something productive. “D**n, Em! You


    should open your own clothing line. You’ll rock the market!”


    I shrugged. “That’s the n. But not now, I’ve still so much to learn.”


    After giving him a brief description about the office, he’d decided to stay back till evening since he was


    free. And even if I just wanted to curl up under my nket and cry, I agreed with his n. At least we


    could catch up a little till then.


    So I brought him upstairs to show him my designs. The designs I wanted to show to a certain person


    after the date and fixing everything with Warner. I wanted to ask for his thoughts on them. But it seemed


    like that certain person wasn’t going to have the luck anymore.


    My eyes went to my phone again. The shing screen told me some unknown number was again calling


    non-stop. Good thing I put it on silent.


    I let out a huff in my head. I blocked his one number, so he got several new ones.


    “Em? You’re listening?”


    I blinked, turning to Warner. “Yeah! Sorry, I was just thinking about something. You said anything?”


    “I said why don’t you show them to Caleb or your senior designers? I’m sure they’d love to add them to


    their next catalogue.” One of his brows raised.


    I shook my head. “They’re for my collection, Warner. When I start the business, I want my best pieces to


    be avable exclusively for disy then.”


    I threw another nce towards the phone again. My hands itched to grab it and receive the calls. But I


    knew better.


    Something soared into my chest as Tess’s words shed across my mind.


    We saw him writhing in pain in his bed when he didn’t get his dose. We heard his screams from his


    nightmares.


    My hands curled into the sheet. Jaw ticked. My somehow smoldered rage awakened into mes again.


    Why? Why…


    Closing my eyes, I took a deep breath, calming the storm inside me that has been swirling since Tess


    left.


    You don’t know what you mean to him, Em. That man is nothing without his Rosebud.


    Sitting straight, I rubbed my face in frustration. The more I wanted to not to think of him, the more my


    mind flooded with him.


    “You alright? And please don’t sell me your lies again. I can see how restless you’re. What happened?”


    “Nothing, Warner. I…”


    A series of furious non-stop honks of car stopped me. And it was outside of our home.


    I frowned. What’s going on?


    And then came his voice which froze me in my ce.


    “Emerald!”


    Some more honking.


    “Rosebud, please! At leaste to your window!”


    What the h**l? He- he was outside again?


    Warner threw me a perplexed look. Scrambling out of the bed, I ran to the window and peeked outside.


    And there he was. Standing beside his giant ck expensive car, in a three piece suit with the tie loose


    and hair ruffled, he looked up at me with those intense grey eyes.


    He let out a visible sigh of content as he watched me silently for a moment. While I just red.


    Tess was right. He looked miserable. The always perfect Mr. Valencian was a mess today. But he was


    Achilles Valencian after all. He even wore the messy look in a very perfect way. This look of his didn’t


    disappoint to have my heart skip like every other day.


    “Rosebud,” his low voice reached as a whisper to my ears. I tried my best to ignore his desperate eyes


    roaming on me and my pounding heart. Treacherous heart!


    “What are you doing here? And what’s this? Don’t create a scene here, Ace! Go away!” My lips pressed


    tight as I nced around in the neighborhood.


    “Baby, please. Just talk to me once. I know I’ve hurt you and I’m extremely sorry for that. Punish me if


    you want, I’d do anything. But just don’t shut me off. Please, baby.”


    Baby?


    My heart tugged at the pain in his voice and eyes, the edge in his stance. But then I made myself


    remember everything. Even though my eyes burned, I kept a stoic face.


    “The only thing I would want you to do is leave me alone. I don’t want to talk about it anymore. So


    please, just leave.”


    “Don’t say that. We can talk. Baby please…” He halted in the mid way as his eyes looked at something


    behind me. His pleading eyes suddenly turned hard as steel, his shoulders tensed and fists clenched.


    “So this is the reason for your restlessness.”


    Looking over my shoulder, I found Warner standing right behind me. His unreadable gaze set on the man


    down on the road whose murderous re was drilling holes into him.


    “What’s he doing here?” deep Greek ent hissed. With his stormy greys dark with fury, his nostrils


    red. Achilles Valencian was back again.


    I wanted to send Warner back inside, but instead I just held my chin high.


    “That’s none of your business. You won’t tell me who wille and go in my own house.”


    When his fierce eyes snapped to Warner again, I felt him stepping back behind me.


    Taking a deep breath, he set his ming preying gaze fixed on me. “Rosebud, if you want him to stay in


    one piece, tell him to leave right now. Don’t test my patience. You can punish me all you want, but I


    WON’T tolerate this.”


    I gaped at him. The nerve of this man!


    “Is that a threat, Mr. Valencian? If it is, then I’m not scared of you,” said Warner, stepping forward again.


    The muscle of Ace’s strong jaw ticked.


    “He won’t go anywhere! He’s my friend, so he can stay here as long as he wants. The one who needs to


    go is you! So just leave, Ace! I won’t say twice! Otherwise, trust me, you won’t like the oue,” pointing


    my index finger, I warned him. What would I do if he didn’t go?


    I didn’t know.


    But I didn’t know why I felt it to pronounce Warner as my friend before him.


    I just hoped he wouldn’t barge into my house like a bull and do something rash.


    With his fists clenched at his sides, eyes icy cold, he looked at Warner again. “Don’te into my way,


    Mr. Wilson. Trust me, I’m not a person to mess with.”


    This time Warner stayed quiet.


    Taking another deep breath, he turned to me. “I’ll give you another night, Rosebud. I want you in the


    office tomorrow. And believe me, if you don’t show up-” he cast a nce at the gate, “-even your set lines


    wouldn’t be able to stop me from reaching you.”


    Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org.


    With that, he sent another warning look to Warner before getting into his car and driving away.


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